The Velvet Divorce of 1993, Prague - Czech Republic The Velvet Divorce of 1993 The Velvet Divorce of 1993 The not so “velvet” story behind the split of Czechoslovakia The Velvet Divorce of 1993 The not so “velvet” story behind the split of Czechoslovakia View all articles Czechoslovakia, formed in 1918, was an independent state born directly after the end of the First World War and the subsequent breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on October 31, 1918. It was a state which included territories of what is now the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Ukraine. The population of Czechoslovakia in 1921 was 13.6 million, out of which Czechoslovaks (Czechs and Slovaks) accounted for 64%, Germans for 23%, Hungarians for 5.5%, and so on. It was a country composed of people of many nationalities, enjoyed many spoken languages, and could be considered multi-ethnic by all means.

To understand the complexities of the eventual split, it is important to understand the historical developments that took place. With the Second World War and the conflicts and divisions that it caused, Czechoslovakia was first deprived of its German-speaking regions in 1938. Following this, in 1939, Czechoslovakia was invaded by Nazi Germany and ceased to exist. The Slovak State was formed, Subcarpathian Ruthenia was annexed by Hungary and Poland occupied the Zaolzie region. The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was formed in what remained. The vision of a unified country seemed very distant at the time. In 1945, after the end of WWII, Czechoslovakia was reinstated, alas with a territory smaller than before the war, i.e. without Subcarpathian Ruthenia, which, following a much disputed referendum, was annexed by the Soviet Union (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic). When the Beneš Decrees were enforced, 2.5 million ethnic Germans were forced to leave the territory. Essentially, what remained was a Czechoslovakia composed predominantly of Czech, Slovak, and Hungarian ethnic groups.

Efforts to return to the democratic form of government which existed prior to WWII were short lived. In 1948, the communists officially came to power and Czechoslovakia fell into their grip, which would not cease to exist until 1989, soon after followed by a break-up. Czechoslovakia of 1918-1938 Czechoslovakism and the birth of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakism, rooted in the 1920 constitution and the belief in a common, united country of Czechs and Slovaks, was a movement, often characterized through politicians such as Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (President osvoboditel – President Liberator), Eduard Beneš (President budovatel – President Builder) and many others in all circles of society. The idea proposed that Czechs and Slovaks belong together on historical grounds, and were artificially divided under the Austro Hungarian Empire. In essence, it surfaced as a protectionist and nationalist measure following assimilation efforts of the German and Hungarian speaking political powers. The movement is closely tied with the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918.

It called for secularism to unify the more religious Slovaks with the less religious Czechs. It was, to an extent, a unifying element, and proponents such as Eduard Beneš argued that a united Czechoslovakia would help both the more developed Czechs as well as the more agricultural Slovaks. He also stressed equal access to governmental offices and mutual aid. The most important factor was that it established a legal right to a state by a significant majority, one which would be hard to achieve without the Slovaks (or for the Slovaks without the Czechs). With the large populations of Germans, Hungarians, Poles, Russians and others, it would have been very hard to establish authority and the rule of law without a united Czech-Slovak majority. The formation of Czechoslovakia could be seen as a necessity in the light of the future. Slovakia, for one, was actually under the threat of growing Hungarian influence prior to WWI. Unification allowed for the emancipation of Slovakia from Hungarian elements and allowed for its greater political leverage, including the will of some to create a separate country.

Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk - The first president of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Language When the 1920 Language Act came into being, it dubbed the “Czechoslovak language” as the norm and the only official language of the newly founded Republic. „jazyk československý jest státním, oficielním jazykem republiky“ As is stipulated, the languages were actually two, but common for both countries in the sense that both could communicate with each other using their own. Minority languages (German, Polish, Hungarian etc.) spoken by some 20% of the population at the time were granted the freedom of usage. In time, Czechoslovak TV and Radio was aired in both Czech and Slovak languages. Slovaks would travel to Czech lands, while Czechs would frequent the Slovak Tatra mountain range, one of the most popular mountain destinations in Czechoslovakia. Marriage and language exchange was frequent, and the social link was very strong at the time. Language division was there, but largely neutralized by efforts to use both Slovak and Czech in announcements, in news and so on.

Politically, both Czech and Slovak was used to address the masses. The Slovak State (1939 – 1945) Considerable criticism is to this day geared against Slovakia from some Czechs, accusing it of collaboration with Nazi Germany. Slovakia separated itself under the leadership of Josef Tiso and established itself as a Slovak State (Slovenský štát) in 1939 and ceased to exist in 1945, just before the end of the war. Many Czechs felt this was betrayal and that this demonstrated that the idea of Czechoslovakia composed of Czechs and Slovaks was not entirely shared by the Slovaks. The Slovaks, however, argue that this was involuntary and did not by far represent the opinions of the majority. Election of Communists in Czechoslovakia The democratic president at the time, Eduard Beneš was forced to hand over power on February 25, 1948. Due to post-war chaos, fragmentation of political parties and an overall dissatisfaction with the government meant that in 1946, the Communists did very well in the elections.

In Czech lands, 40.17% people voted for the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, while in Slovak lands, this was only 30.48%. Given the larger population of Czechs, the amount of mandates resulted in the Communists winning the elections in the larger Czechoslovakia. Many Slovaks felt that they did not choose this path and due to the Czechs, were forced to accept it. February 25, 1948 - The day the communists took over Czechoslovakia Political Representation, Self-Determination and Pragocentrism Many Slovaks felt overpowered and unable to decide their own fate and political leaders following the elections. Elected presidents were Slovak and Czech in nationality, in order to achieve greater equality. Despite this, however, many felt that they were not sufficiently represented. Frustration was largely caused by the fact that some Slovaks saw themselves as part of an entity with a majority Czech population, which, to a significant degree, dictated the direction taking place.

Given the strong grip of the Communist regime and its centralized nature situated in Czech lands, many Slovaks felt that even the political representatives were actually answerable to the Czechs and Prague (Pragocentric). Many refer to this as asymmetrical in nature, attributing this suppressed fact to the eventual break-up. Economic Divide Major differences existed with regards to the economic development of Slovakia as opposed to Bohemia and Moravia. Slovakia was largely agricultural in nature, while large parts of Czech lands were industrialized and considered the bread basket of the Austro Hungarian Empire. Large sums of funding flowed from the larger entity to Slovakia. Some Czechs saw this as something that was slowing them down and as something that limited their potential. In the 1990s, the Czech Republic’s GDP per capita was, in fact, 20% higher than that of Slovakia. From 1991 onwards, budget transfers to Slovakia ceased, also contributing to mounting political pressure for greater self-determination.

Federalization, Fall of Communism and the Split The 1969 federalization which resulted in the formation of two federal states, together referred to as ČSSR (Československá socialistická republika), resulted in one of the first tangible efforts to separate the two nations. Borders were drawn and people became citizens of their respective countries. The federal government remained in control of key strategic social and political functions while the national governments were given new privileges and possibilities. When the communist regime fell in 1989, ČSFR (Česká a Slovenská Federativní Republika) was established, yet again composed of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic and governed by the Federal Assembly. With the post-communist federal government in its infancy, and the predominantly political chaos that took place, the calls for two separate countries gained momentum, primarily in political circles. This was in large due to differing agendas, incompatible political developments and the lack of a clear common political direction. The newly-elected president Václav Havel was strongly against any breakup. In fact, the majority of the population at the time was also against such an idea.

In a country-wide poll from 1992, only 37% Czechs and 36% of Slovaks favored division and dissolution. Václav Havel in 1989 - The first post-communist president of ČSFR Politicians such as Václav Klaus wanted either a tighter federal system or outright dissolution. Mečiar and other Slovak politicians favored a confederate system likened to that of Belgium. After multiple meetings and the failure to arrive at a common solution, Klaus and Mečiar agreed with dissolution. The Slovak Parliament declared independence on July 27, 1992. Soon after, Czech president Václav Havel resigned, seeing the decision as something that should not have happened and not something he was willing to be part of. Act 541 was passed, dividing property in a ratio of 2:1 and Act 542 established a date for the official dissolution at December 31, 1992. The split was complete, without a referendum, without having asked the people if this was the direction they wanted to take.

The lack of a referendum is in retrospective a commonly discussed and disputed point among the general public and many politicians. Perhaps it could be said that the time at which these decisions were made, the simplest solution to growing problems was to divide and to determine each others’ future separately and without any violence. The question is whether the decision was the right one… The Now and the Future Czechs and Slovaks did and do share a common bond. The historical partnership and mutual enrichment cannot be disputed. With the dissolution, many felt deprived and many felt that it was not the right direction. However, developments seem to show that relationships between Slovakia and the Czech Republic are in fact better than ever before and at a level that only a few other countries can draw parallels with. Both countries are now in the EU and NATO and both countries are interconnected, be it through recent Czech-Slovak shows on TV, through music, the passion for hockey, or political contacts. Many Czech and Slovaks share family members and many Slovak students study in Prague. Essentially, both countries have moved on and evolved as neighbors and, in a way, like two siblings each paving their own paths, but always in close contact with each other.

Jobs in Prague for English & Multilingual Speakers Click for 100's of jobs in Prague for English and multilingual speakers in Prague. Czechoslovakia Breaks in Two, To Wide Regret - NYTimes.com Czechoslovakia Breaks in Two, To Wide Regret By STEPHEN ENGELBERG, Published: January 1, 1993 PRAGUE, Friday, Jan. 1— Against the wishes of many of its 15 million citizens, Czechoslovakia today split into two countries: Slovakia and the Czech Republic. A multi-ethnic nation born at the end of World War I in the glow of pan-Slavic brotherhood, Czechoslovakia survived dismemberment by the Nazis and more than four decades of Communist rule only to fall apart after just three years of democracy. Czechoslovakia's breakup, though peacefully accomplished, adds new potential trouble spots to a Central Europe already convulsed by nationalism. While the Czech Republic's 10.3 million people are almost entirely composed of Czechs, Slovakia's population of 5.2 million includes nearly 600,000 ethnic Hungarians who already feel anxieties about the new Government.

The split, which became effective at midnight, was cheered in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, by bonfires and joyous speeches in the main square. "Two states have been established," Vladimir Meciar, Prime Minister of Slovakia, said on Thursday. "Living together in one state is over. Living together in two states continues." There was no similar ceremony or celebration in Prague, which was for 74 years the federal capital. The Czechoslovak flag, which has been adopted by the Czech Republic as its own, remained atop Government buildings as the clocks tolled midnight. Czechoslovakia's federal television, which became Czech Television at midnight, marked the occasion by playing the Czechoslovak national anthem, which has verses in both the Czech and Slovak language, one last time. Shortly after midnight, it played the anthem of the new Czech Republic, which has only the Czech verses. Czechs in bars and their own homes drank to the new year rather than the birth of a new nation. Miriam Huskova, a 22-year-old graphic artist, expressed the sentiments of many Czechs.

Just three years ago, she stood in Prague's Wenceslas Square with hundreds of thousands of people shouting, "Havel to the Castle," a then seemingly outrageous demand that Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright, take power from the Communists. On Thursday night, as the Czechoslavic republic's final hours ticked away, she stood pensively at the fog-shrouded castle. Mr. Havel, Czechoslovakia's only post-Communist President, had left months ago after he was defeated for re-election. Although he is expected to run for president of the Czech Republic, Miss Huskova said it wouldn't be the same. "Three years ago, people came together," she said. "The atmosphere was a little like Christmas eve, when everyone is nice to each other. That's ended, and it's sad." There is considerable uncertainty about what the next few months and years will bring these Slavic peoples, who speak similar languages and differ mainly in their ancient histories. Although each country will now have a separate embassy in Washington, the two countries have for the moment agreed to maintain a common currency and customs union to allow free movement of goods.

Czechs and Slovaks will not be required to show passports at the 17 newly opened border crossings, and the other 350 roads that link these two countries will remain open to traffic. But few economists believe the common currency will last long, and if it disappears, the effects could ripple through both countries. Slovakia, the eastern half of what was Czechoslovakia, currently suffers from an 11 percent unemployment rate, four times that of the Czech lands. Saddled with heavy industry by Communist central planners who sought to modernize Slovakia, the republic historically ran a trade deficit. In addition, its banks have faced runs as anxious Slovak depositors moved their savings into Czech banks. These factors could push the Slovak Government to run a deficit and print money, moves that would instantly mean the end of the common currency. Slovak officials have warned of hard times ahead, but insist their country will eventually reap major benefits from independence. They note that the lion's share of foreign investment in Czechoslovakia thus far has gone to the Czech lands, a fact they attribute to the bias of federal officials in Prague rather than the demands of the market.

Although the Czech Government estimates that trade between the republics will fall at least 10 percent in the next year, they too speak optimistically. Some even talk of a Czech economic take-off over the next two or three years that will propel this nation to European levels. Diplomats and international analysts see these projections as vastly overstated, and say the possible loss of the Slovak market could even blunt the economic recovery now gathering strength in the Czech Republic. The breakup of Czechoslovakia was, from its inception, a political matter. Soon after the Communists were pushed from power by the velvet revolution in November 1989, Slovak leaders began talking openly about eventually creating a separate country. In the 1990 presidential campaign, Mr. Havel, who had been championed by Czechs and Slovaks alike, was shouted down by the Slovak separatists when he spoke in the same square in which Bratislava residents gathered today. It was a warning, even though the militant nationalist parties won scant support in that election. 1 The Velvet Divorce – January 1, 1993 – Prague Blog By Tracy A.

Burns High hopes after 1989 Many had high hopes for the democratic Czechoslovakia that was reestablished after the 1989 Velvet Revolution. After all, the country had been democratic for 20 years during the First Republic (1918-1938). Plus Czech and Slovak were similar languages, and the two national identities strongly supported each other in cultural pursuits. Yet, it was not to be. On the last day of 1992, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist, and on January 1, 1993, the two independent states of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic were born. How exactly did it happen? Why did they split? Historians have written numerous books on the subject. Post-revolution arguments In 1989, Slovaks were not so enthusiastic about the renewed democratic Czechoslovakia. Czechs, on the other hand, considered Czechoslovakia an integral part of their identity, just as they had during the first democratic republic. The Slovaks felt oppressed. They believed they were discriminated against.

Slovaks exhibited a severe allergy to Prague centralism, just as they had during the interwar years and after World War II. After the Velvet Revolution, Czechs and Slovaks could not even decide on a name for their country. Slovakia was not pleased with the name Czechoslovakia, which reinforced the notion of Prague centralism. Instead, they proposed the name to be Czecho-Slovakia, but for Czechs that brought to mind the puppet Nazi-aligned Slovak state set up in 1939 under Hitler. They finally compromised on the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic. The so-called hyphen war may seem trivial, but it was a major dispute at the time and caused much tension between the two entities. Still, the citizens were not the ones who decided to get what has been termed “the Velvet divorce” due to the fact that there was no bloodshed. Most Czechs and Slovaks supported a referendum. In a poll taken during September of 1992, only 37 percent of Slovaks and 36 percent of Czechs favored a split. The politicians who had won seats in the 1992 elections to Parliament made the final decision.

Dissatisfaction with Czechoslovakia during 1991 Slovaks started displaying their distrust of the post-revolution Czechoslovakia long before the end of 1992. Even during 1991, Slovaks were showing their dissatisfaction, taking part in demonstrations to promote independence from the Czechs. On March 13, 1991 thousands of Slovaks gathered at Jozef Tiso’s grave in Bratislava to consecrate it, marking the 52th anniversary of the founding of the Slovak state. Yet this Slovak state established in 1939 had been created with the consent of Hitler and Nazi Germany when many Slovaks had shown extreme nationalistic tendencies. Tiso, a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Slovak People’s Party, collaborated with the Nazis as the leader of that first Slovak Republic during the war, from 1939 to 1945. After World War II, he was hanged for his support of the Nazi regime. When Czechoslovak President Václav Havel unexpectedly showed up at the consecration, he did not receive any applause. Quite the contrary. He was even attacked.

Last attempts at saving the marriage The Slovak question became even more combustible as time went on. On November 3, 1991, when President Havel and Czech and Slovak politicians met to amend the constitution, Slovak nationalists refused to approve any of the proposals. Czech Prime Minister Václav Klaus and Slovak Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar continually debated whether the country should be a federation or a confederation, respectively. In July of 1992, after the Slovak Parliament passed the Declaration of Independence of the Slovak nation, President Havel, who was strongly in favor of keeping Czechoslovakia together, resigned. On November 25, 1992 the Federal Assembly agreed to separate the Czech and Slovak republics into individual states. The Great Moravian Empire and Slovak nationalism The preamble of the new Slovak constitution states that the Slovaks are descendents of the Great Moravian Empire, when, during the 9th century, ancestors of these two nations made up its population. The territory, located on both sides of the Morava River, encompassed western Slovakia and part of Bohemia and Moravia.

Founded in 833, the empire consisted of the Principality of Nitra and the Principality of Moravia. It lasted for almost 70 years, until the Hungarians took over around 896. Many historians claim that there is no connection between current Slovakia and the Slovak ancestors in the Great Moravian Empire because the Slav tribes that existed then did not portray differentiating characteristics culturally or linguistically. Still, the Great Moravian Empire remains an integral part of Slovak nationalism. Austro-Hungarian experiences Czechs and Slovaks brought vastly different historical experiences into the short-lived, post-revolution union. From the early 10th century to 1918, their historical situations were not at all the same. The Czechs had been part of the kingdom of Bohemia and then found themselves under Austrian rule while the Slovaks had obeyed Hungary and then the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At that time, Czech industrial centers dotted the Austrian territory while agricultural Slovakia remained mostly undeveloped.

Slovaks in the first democratic republic Furthermore, when Czechoslovakia became a democratic state in 1918, its founder Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk joined the two nations out of necessity. Neither the Czechs nor the Slovaks were able to stand on their own, and he wanted to keep the strong German minority at bay. At the time of Czechoslovakia’s creation, Czechs made up 51 percent of the population while Germans came in second with a powerful 22 percent. The Slovaks lingered in third with 16 percent. Even during this era, Slovaks felt oppressed, not identifying themselves as Czechoslovak but rather as only Slovak. They also felt that the Czechs had colonized Slovakia via communications. For example, Czechs gained positions of authority in the railways and postal services. Czechs argued that there were not enough competent people from rural and peasant Slovakia to fulfill these posts. Historical differences from 1938 to 1945 To better understand the country’s split, it is necessary to take a look at the historical situations following the First Republic.

In 1938 a large segment of Slovakia and Ruthenia came under Hungarian control, and the Sudetenland in the Czech lands became a part of the Third Reich. During World War II, Czechoslovakia was broken up into the Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and the Slovak puppet state. Still, a Czechoslovak government, based in London, did fight for the nonexistent country’s rights in exile. The Germans tried to destroy Czech nationality, and Jewish communities were annihilated, though a lucky few managed to emigrate. After the war, Czechoslovakia came into existence once again, this time without Ruthenia, a territory taken over by the USSR. Czechoslovak President Edvard Beneš expelled over two million Germans from the country after confiscating their property. Historical differences from 1946 to 1989 In 1946 Czechoslovakia rebounded. Unfortunately, because the Communist Party won the elections in the Czech lands, Communists took up posts as ministers. Yet in Slovakia the situation was different. The Democratic Party was victorious in the elections, causing even more tension between the two nations.

After the February coup of 1948, Czechoslovakia officially became a Communist state. Even during the totalitarian nation that survived until 1989, there still was mistrust and misunderstanding between the Czechs and Slovaks, especially after 1969. That was when, following the crushing of the Prague Spring as rigid normalization policies were implemented, the two entities became a federation of the Czech Socialist Republic and the Slovak Socialist Republic. Such a political framework would add to the pressures that finally escalated into divorce. During the 1970s, the country became more centralized, although the president, Gustáv Husák, was Slovak. Breaking apart The political, cultural and economic rifts between the Czechs and Slovaks had their roots in centuries’ old history as the events that shaped the two nations vastly differed from the 10th century through the Austro-Hungarian Empire and afterwards. During the Great Moravian Empire there were no differential features between the Slav tribes, yet by the time the two entities became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, there were tensions galore.

The Slovaks had not been so enthusiastic about the First Republic, either; they had no choice but to join forces with the Masaryk-led Czechs. During World War II, each side occupied a different position in the Nazi regime. Communist Czechoslovakia did not appease the Slovaks’ frustrations, especially after 1969. When democracy reigned once again, the Slovak question, which the Czechs had underestimated, had far from disappeared. Yet the issue was solved without the bloodshed that riddled war-torn Yugoslavia, and now both countries are members of the European Union, standing on their own. Related Tours The Velvet Divorce in European History European History Expert By Robert Wilde The Velvet Divorce was the unofficial name given to the separation of Czechoslovakia into Slovakia and the Czech Republic in the early 1990s, earned because of the peaceful manner in which it was achieved. The State of Czechoslovakia At the end of the First World War the German and Austrian / Hapsburg empires fell apart, enabling a set of new nation states to emerge. One of these new states was Czechoslovakia.

Czechs made up around fifty per cent of the initial population, and identified with a long history of Czech life, thought and statehood; Slovaks comprised around fifteen per cent, had a very similar language to the Czechs which helped bind the country together, but had never been in their ‘own’ country. The rest of the population were German, Hungarian, Polish and others, left by the problems of drawing boundaries to replace a polyglot empire. In the late 1930s Hitler, now in charge of Germany, turned his eye first on Czechoslovakia’s German population, and then on large parts of the country, annexing it. continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States World War 2 now followed, and this ended with Czechoslovakia being conquered by the Soviet Union; a communist government was soon in place. There were struggles against this regime – the ‘Prague Spring of 1968’ saw a thaw in communist government that bought invasion from the Warsaw Pact and a federalist political structure – and Czechoslovakia remained in the ‘eastern bloc’ of the Cold War .

The Velvet Revolution At the end of the 1980s Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev was faced with protests across Eastern Europe, the impossibility of matching the military spending of the west, and the urgent need for internal reforms. His response was as surprising as it was sudden: he ended the Cold War at a stroke, removing the threat of Soviet led military action against former communist vassals. Without Russian armies to support them communist government fells across Eastern Europe, and in the autumn of 1989 Czechoslovakia experienced a widespread set of protests which became known as the ‘Velvet Revolution’ because of their peaceful nature and their success: the communists decided not to use force to hang on and negotiated a new government, and free elections were held in 1990. Private business, democratic parties, and a new constitution followed, and Václav Havek became the President.

The Velvet Divorce The Czech and Slovak populations in Czechoslovakia had been drifting apart over the course of the state’s existence, and when the gunpoint cement of communism had gone, and when the newly democratic Czechoslovakia came to discuss the new constitution and how to govern the nation, they found many issues dividing the Czechs and Slovaks. There were arguments over the varying sizes and growth rates of the twin economies, and of the power each side had: many Czechs felt the Slovaks had too much power for their respective numbers. This was exacerbated by a level of local federalist government which had created government ministers and cabinets for each of the two largest populations, effectively blocking full integration. There was soon talk of separating the two into their own states. Elections in 1992 saw Vaclav Klaus become Prime Minister of the Czech region, and Vladimir Meciar Prime Minister of the Slovak one. They had different views on policy and wanted different things from government, and were soon discussing whether to tie the region closer together or split it apart. People have argued that Klaus now took a lead in demanding a division of the nation, while others have argued Meciar was a separatist. Either way a break seemed likely.

When Havel encountered resistance he resigned rather than oversee the separation, and there wasn’t a statesman of sufficient charisma, and sufficient support, to replace him as a president of a unified Czechoslovakia. While politicians weren’t sure whether the general public supported such a move negotiations developed, in such a peaceful manner as to earn the name ‘Velvet Divorce’. Progress was swift, and on December 31st 1992 Czechoslovakia ceased to exist: Slovakia and the Czech Republic replaced it on January 1st 1993. Significance The fall of communism in Eastern Europe led not just to the Velvet Revolution, but to the bloodshed of Yugoslavia , when that state collapsed into warfare and an ethnic cleansing which still haunts Europe. The dissolution of Czechoslovakia made a stark contrast, and it proved that states can divide peacefully, and that new states can form without the need for warfare. The velvet divorce also bought stability to central Europe at a time of great unrest, allowing the Czechs and Slovaks to sidestep what would have been a period of intense legal and political wrangling, and cultural tension, and instead focus on state building.

Even now relations remain good, and there is very little in the way of calls for a return to federalism. 'Velvet Divorce' Looking Tattered - NYTimes.com 'Velvet Divorce' Looking Tattered Published: March 24, 1993 Czechoslovakia's "velvet divorce" is turning nasty. Once viewed in Prague as economically advantageous and relatively painless, particularly for the Czechs, the split-up of the old country at the beginning of 1993 into two republics is having far more adverse consequences than Czech and Slovak leaders had anticipated. "Economic relations between the Czech and Slovak republics have entered a difficult phase," said Otto Storf, an Eastern Europe specialist at Deutsche Bank Research in Frankfurt. "These problems, together with the challenges of restructuring the economy at the microeconomic level, will prevent at first the full exploitation of the undoubtedly high growth potential of the Czech economy." Basically, the two sides are at odds over the division of family property. As a result, trade between the two countries - the Czech Republic, with roughly twice the population of Slovakia, has a significantly higher standard of living and more advanced economic potential - already has been cut sharply.

Conflicts over the allocation of value-added-tax revenue and customs duties have produced considerable confusion and delays at border crossing. With about $700 million to $1 billion in financial props from Prague being pulled out from under the Slovak economy, Czech industry now fears an even worse constricting of cross-border business ties. Large manufacturers, such as Volkswagen AG's Skoda auto factory, report constant difficulties receiving parts from their Slovak suppliers. Volkhard Köhler, vice chairman of Skoda's board, said in a recent interview that as many as 40 percent of the company's suppliers were threatened with bankruptcy. Most of the potential victims are in Slovakia. In contrast with earlier predictions by government officials that the Czech economy would start expanding in 1993, Karel Dyba, the economics minister in Prague, warned this month that Czech output could fall by 3 percent to 5 percent. Forced work holidays caused by the trade disruption are a possibility, he said. The two countries' monetary breakup, which went into effect in early February, has prompted speculation against the thinly traded Slovak koruny.

A modest 2 percent devaluation from the official parity between the two currencies has failed to stem the trade erosion, and a formal devaluation of the Slovak currency, of perhaps 30 percent, is expected soon. The worst backlash from the national divorce, however, comes from the decision last week by Vaclav Klaus, the Czech prime minister, to stall the distribution of stock in Czech companies to Slovaks who bought vouchers for the shares in the first wave of privatization last year. The move was designed to press the Slovak government in Bratislava to compromise over the division of property owned by the former Czechoslovak federation. Mr. Klaus at first said the step would not interfere with next week's planned distribution of shares to Czech citizens. But officials announced this week that the exchange of vouchers for shares set for Monday had been suspended and the opening of Prague's computerized stock exchange delayed indefinitely. Only last month, Mr.

Klaus had described worries over the Czechoslovakian division as "exaggerated," saying the split-up was going "so smoothly" that it was having only a minor "disruptive effect." Foreign business, already complaining over the far higher tax levels that Prague put into effect this year, expressed fears that politicization of the vaunted privatization process would put future investment at risk. The Czech-Slovak divorce remains only an economic problem, rather than the political and ethnic morass that has led to war and violent confrontations in the former Yugoslavia and Soviet Union. But the disruptions are still worrisome, particularly because the market-oriented Czech Republic is seen as one of the few promising models for other Eastern European economies. "While the long-run outlook remains highly positive, the government's optimism about an early takeoff for the Czech economy was overdone," a Western diplomat in Prague said. But, as troubling as the problems are in the Czech Republic, things are far worse in Slovakia. Last week, the Slovak economics minister, Ludovit Cernak, resigned from the government, complaining that Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar was interfering with the development of a serious economic policy and was blocking a needed devaluation of the currency.

Slovak central bankers, without a leader at the top, are pleading for a loan from the International Monetary Fund, but so far to no avail. The IMF broke off discussions last month over a possible loan of $300 million, saying government disarray and the impossibility of gathering even the most basic economic information stood in the way. Smooth 1993 breakup of Czechoslovakia might be example for Scottish independence drive | Fox News Smooth 1993 breakup of Czechoslovakia might be example for Scottish independence drive Published September 17, 2014 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Email Print FILE - In this July 17, 1992 file photo People welcome the ratification of Slovak sovereignty declaration in front of the Slovak parliament in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. The split of Czechoslovakia into two countries on Jan. 1, 1993 has been referred to as a "velvet divorce", hassle-free, peaceful and as amicable a split can be. If Scotland says yes to independence in the Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 referendum, there might be a lesson to learn from the split of Czechoslovakia.

(AP Photo/CTK, Jana Nosekova, file) SLOVAKIA OUT (The Associated Press) FILE - In this Aug. 26, 1992 file photo, Slovak Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar, left, and Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, right, sit together during their talks about the breakup of the Czechoslovak federation at Tugendhat Villa's garden in Brno, Czechoslovakia. The split of Czechoslovakia into two countries has been referred to as a "velvet divorce" _ hassle-free, peaceful and as amicable as a breakup can be. If Scotland says yes to independence in the Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 referendum, there might be a lesson to learn from the split of Czechoslovakia. (AP Photo/CTK, Igor Zehl, file) SLOVAKIA OUT (The Associated Press) FILE - In this June 18, 1992 file photo demonstrators in Prague's Wenceslas Square chant President Vaclav Havel's name at a rally supporting Havel and the Czech Premier Vaclav Klaus.

the demonstration took place a day before negotiations between Klaus and Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar to discuss a caretaker government to guide Czechoslovakia through its greatest postwar crisis amid signs that the federation will split. But the split of Czechoslovakia into two countries on Jan. 1, 1993 has been referred to as a "velvet divorce", hassle-free, peaceful and as amicable a split can be. If Scotland says yes to independence in the Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 referendum, there might be a lesson to learn from the split of Czechoslovakia. (AP Photo/David Brauchli) (The Associated Press) Previous Next PRAGUE – If Scotland says yes to independence in Thursday's referendum, there might be a lesson to learn from the amicable split of Czechoslovakia on Jan. 1, 1993. Known as a "velvet divorce," the breakup was nothing like the secessionist wars that raged in Yugoslavia. It was as peaceful and smooth as the 1989 Velvet Revolution that threw off oppressive communist rule in Czechoslovakia, and is considered a success even by its opponents.

HISTORY Czechoslovakia was formed from two parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which died in the flames of World War I in 1918. It was a stable democracy between the two world wars, then fell victim to Hitler and turned communist after World War II. At the root of the breakup were differences over political and economic reforms following the end of four decades of communism. While the Czechs heartily endorsed the quick transformation to a market-based economy, the Slovaks preferred slower change. Slovakia, a less-developed region of 5.4 million, was hit hard by Prague's market-oriented reform drive; the 10 million Czechs suffered less. Both nations agreed to split their country's property on a 2 to 1 ratio. Although the breakup went smoothly, the absence of referendums left a feeling of ambiguity for many. CURRENCY Slovaks wanted to keep the common currency but differences in their economies meant that the monetary union collapsed after just five weeks. After Feb. 8, people had four days to place all their money in the banks and Czech or Slovak government stamps were placed on the banknotes. The entire operation went smoothly and is now considered an example to follow.

STATE ATTRIBUTIONS The national flag became a minor issue after the Czech Republic decided to continue using the flag of Czechoslovakia. The national anthems were less problematic: the stanza in Czech from the federal anthem became the Czech national anthem and Slovaks took the Slovak part, to which they added one more stanza. The federal coat of arms was used in the same way: the lion now forms the Czech one while Slovakia, a Roman Catholic stronghold, retained its double cross. OUTCOME Vaclav Havel, a dissident playwright who led the anti-communist Velvet Revolution, initially was opposed to the separation and resigned as the country's president in July 1992, but acknowledged 10 years later that "it is a good thing that it happened. Czechs and Slovaks may be closer today than ever before." Today, both countries have flawless relations and are close allies in the borderless EU and NATO. The economic disaster predicted by many for Slovakia didn't come. After wasting several years under authoritarian Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar, it made free-market reforms to become the EU's fastest growing economy and adopted the euro in 2009. The more Euroskeptic Czechs don't have it yet.

Advertisement Dissolution of Czechoslovakia - Cold War Cold War Interviews Dissolution of Czechoslovakia The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on January 1, 1993 when Czechoslovakia split into two separate countries: The Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is sometimes known as the Velvet Divorce of 1989 that led to the end of the rule of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and the formation of a democratic government. There are many different reasons for the split of Czechoslovakia, but they are center around inevitability versus events that occurred between the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and the end of the joined state in 1992.The stereotypes between the two nations, problems with the shared state during communism, the failure of the communist state in Czech lands and its success in the Slovak lands, and the 1968 constitution played the biggest role. The other people point to international factors such as the situation the breakaway of the Soviet satellite nations, the lack of unified media between the Czech and Slovak republic, and most importantly the actions of the political leaders of the two nations and their nationalism.

In 1992, the Czech Republic elected Václav Klaus who demanded tighter federation or two independent states. Vladimír Mečiar and other leading Slovak politicians wanted a kind of confederation. On 17 July, the Slovak parliament adopted the Declaration of independence of the Slovak nation. Six days later, Klaus and Meciar agreed to dissolve Czechoslovakia at a meeting in Bratislava. Czechoslovak president Václav Havel resigned rather than oversee the dissolution which he had opposed. In a September 1992 poll, only 37% of Slovaks and 36% of Czechs favored dissolution. The goal of negotiations switched to achieving a peaceful division. On 13 November, the Federal Assembly passed Constitution Act 541 which settled the division of property between the Czech lands and Slovakia. With Constitution Act 542, passed on 25 November, they agreed to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia as of 31 December 1992. The separation occurred without violence which was accomplished through massive peaceful demonstrations and actions. In contrast, other post-communist break-ups (such as the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia) involved violent conflict.

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Question: Which country split into two in the velvet divorce of 1993?
Answer: Czechoslovakia